Page 22 of The Single Father Upstairs

“That’s n-not Indie.” Miles collapsed beside my daughter. ‘“Or it is, but she’s kinda furry.”

His eyes darted from left to right before he slapped his thigh. “Oh, I get it. I’m being punked.” He glanced over his shoulder.“Or this is like one of those urban adventure races. Whatever your goal is, Indie, you look cool.”

Miles put a hand to his heart. “You really had me going there.”

He sat up and laughed, but the sound died on his lips as the fur vanished and was replaced by my daughter’s skin. The paws and claws disappeared, and Indigo wriggled her ten toes.

“That felt weird.”

Miles slammed back onto the grass. He was still breathing, but his eyes were closed and his cheeks were pale.

“Miles.” My daughter shook him. “Miles, wake up.”

Shit, did I have to resuscitate him?

But he groaned and lifted a hand to shade his eyes. “Maybe I need to see a doctor because I’m hallucinating.”

“It’s just me, Miles.” Indigo patted his hand.

I helped him sit. This wouldn’t have been my choice as to how to introduce him to our shifter world, but that decision had been taken out of my hands.

“I’m going to tell you a tale that is as old as time.”

His brow furrowed. “Don’t spin this as a fairy tale.” He folded his arms.

I started at the beginning when all humans walked on four legs and explained how our path diverted from the rest of humanity. His expression was skeptical at first and he rolled his eyes until my daughter lifted her foot and reminded him she’d had paws a few minutes ago.

“I’m a bear shifter and so is Indigo, but she hasn’t met her beast yet. Until she does, she has what we call teething problems.”

Miles’s face blanched of all color at the mention of teeth.

“And that’s why everyone in the building has been wary of you. There’s never been a human living in Moonridge Place. You’re the first.”

“Lucky me,” he deadpanned.

“Somehow Jon made a mistake.”

Miles’s eyes locked on mine. “Somehow? Have you met Jon?” He laughed, and it came from deep in his belly. Indigo and I chuckled along with him.

Miles got up, and I expected him to walk off, saying, “I need to think about this,” or worse, “I’m packing up and leaving tonight.”

“And what about Indie’s other dad? Is he a bear too?”

I stiffened, but Indigo answered with a “Yes.” I was so proud of my little girl.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

I glanced at my daughter, and she nodded.

“Some shifters have fated mates. One whiff of their scent and they know they’re meant to be together for life. I thought Indigo’s father was my fate until he met his one and only and left.”

“I was four months old.” Indigo plucked some grass as she spoke.

“That sucks.”

My daughter wrapped her arms around me. “It’s okay because I have the best dad in the world.”

We stood, and I gave Indigo a piggyback as she had no shoes.